Wholeheartedly recommended to every student and user of mathematics, this is an extremely original and highly informative essay on algebra and its place in modern mathematics and science. From the fields studied in every university maths course, through Lie groups to cohomology and category theory, the author shows how the origins of each concept can be related to attempts to model phenomena in physics or in other branches of mathematics. Required reading for mathematicians, from beginners to experts.

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From the reviews:

"This is one of the few mathematical books, the reviewer has read from cover to cover ... The main merit is that nearly on every page you will find some unexpected insights..."Zentralblatt für Mathematik und Ihre Grenzgebiete, 1991

"...which I read like a novel and undoubtedly will become a classic. ... A merit of the book under review is that it contains several important articles from journals which are not all so easily accessible. ... Furthermore, at the end of the book, there are some Notes by the author which are indispensible for the necessary historical background information. ... This valuable book should be on the shelf of every algebraist and algebraic geometer." Nieuw Archief voor Wiskunde, 1992

"... There are few proofs in full, but there is an exhilarating combination of sureness of foot and lightness of touch in the exposition ... which transports the reader effortlessly across the whole spectrum of algebra.... The challenge to Ezekiel, "Can these bones live?" is, all too often, the reaction of students when introduced to the bare bones of the concepts and constructs of modern algebra. Shafarevich's book - which reads as comfortably as an extended essay - breathes life into the skeleton and will be of interest to many classes of readers..."The Mathematical Gazette, 1991

"... According to the preface, the book is addressed to "students of mathematics in the first years of an undergraduate course, or theoretical physicists or mathematicians from outside algebra wanting to get an impression of the spirit of algebra and its place in mathematics." I think that this promise is fully justified. The beginner, the experts and also the interested scientist who had contact with algebraic notions - all will read this exceptional book with great pleasure and benefit."Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, 1991